Leiden University Excellence Scholarship 2027: LExS Eligibility and Deadline

Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) supports excellent students applying to full-time master's degree programmes at Leiden University for the September intake. The current official deadline is 1 December 2026.

Who Can Apply

• Applicants for Leiden University master's programmes, except non-advanced LLM and MSc programmes at Leiden Law School.
• Applicants with a non-EEA/non-EFTA passport who are not eligible for Dutch government student finance.
• Applicants of any nationality for Advanced LLM programmes and the MSc in International Relations and Diplomacy.
• Students with strong academic results in a relevant previous programme. Leiden describes the scholarship as highly competitive.

Award Value

The LExS is awarded for the duration of the study programme. Official award levels are:

• €10,000 of the tuition fee
• €15,000 of the tuition fee
• €17,500 of the tuition fee
• €18,500 of the tuition fee
• €19,000 of the tuition fee

The scholarship is not a full scholarship, so applicants should still plan for personal funding, living costs, and any visa or residence permit proof-of-funds requirement.

Fields and Faculties

The scholarship applies across several Leiden faculties, including Archaeology, Humanities, Medicine/LUMC, Governance and Global Affairs, Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences, and Science, subject to the official programme exceptions.

How to Apply

1. Choose an eligible Leiden University master's programme.
2. Complete the admission application and required documents.
3. Indicate the LExS scholarship in the scholarship section of the application.
4. Check the official Leiden LExS page before submitting, because eligibility and deadlines can vary by programme.